CENTENNIAL, Colo. (October 5, 2017) – A new analysis by a specialty metals expert finds that scandium-contained aluminum alloys can deliver in the range of $9 million in net present value savings to airline operators for every mid-body airliner because of the metal’s ability to lightweight jets, reduce or eliminate the use of rivets, and reduce fuel consumption.
Further, the analysis shows that integrating aluminum-scandium alloys could allow aircraft manufacturers to boost annual revenue by hundreds of millions of dollars per year through lower materials costs, lower direct manufacturing costs, and higher manufacturing throughput.
The analysis was published by Dr. Andrew Matheson, President of OnG Commodities LLC in an article here. Dr. Matheson is an expert in niche metals including scandium and tantalum.
According to Dr. Matheson’s analysis:
“Scandium can save airlines money because it can eliminate the need to rivet aluminium components. Scandium acts to stabilise the grain structure in the vicinity of welds, meaning aluminium parts can be welded quickly and efficiently. This in turn means that aircraft can have thinner skins in some locations, and can eliminate the weight of rivets wherever scandium-doped aluminium alloys are used.
“For a B737 flying 3250 hours per year, and using American Airlines’ cost of capital and the US EIA projections for future fuel price inflation, the present value of fuel savings driven by scandium alloys, assuming a 15% aircraft weight reduction, amounts to a little over $9 million. The cost of added scandium, at a price of $3,500/Kg oxide, and assuming an average 0.7% by weight scandium doping level, is around $800,000 – a savings to cost ratio of 11:1. For a wide body jet, flying perhaps 5000 hours per year, the savings in avoided fuel burn can be dramatically larger.
“Scandium alloys can also offer a range of cost savings to airframe manufacturers. The most obvious is a reduction in the bill of materials: fewer rivets (of which there are hundreds of thousands on large jets) means a substantial reduction in the variable cost of manufacturing. For Boeing and Airbus, this would amount to tens of millions of dollars per year in lower bill of materials costs.
“In general, welding is faster than riveting, and while rivets and fasteners will still be important wherever galvanic corrosion in multi-material structures is a factor, elimination of rivets means on balance a lower direct manufacturing cost, both machine time as well as direct labour to measure and repair riveting. Reductions in direct costs are once again likely to run into the tens of millions of dollars per year.
“To the degree welding speeds the production line, there are also substantial potential benefits from reduced throughput time. For a large aircraft manufacturer, increasing output by 1% could mean several more aircraft per plant per year, with a better absorption of fixed costs and consequently increased profitability.
“Finally, faster throughput means more product to sell. A 1% increase in the annual production of a narrow body jet is worth in the range of $500 million revenue to the OEM, regardless of any value to be obtained from sharing the benefit of fuel savings.
“Overall, then, the impact on profitability for the aircraft manufacturing industry can be substantial – in the range of $0.5-1 billion per year through a combination of increased revenue and reduced cost. This is a large number, roughly equal to the amount of scandium needed (say 200-300 tons per year of oxide, assuming efficient recycling) at today’s oxide price. Depending on the specifics of OEM operations scandium could end up paying for itself in passenger aircraft regardless of how fuel savings are allocated between OEMs and airlines.”
Dr. Matheson also noted that “other transportation markets represent a third potential demand source for scandium, particularly in electric vehicles (where weight reductions can lead to savings in battery cost) as well as lower temperature service as a replacement for titanium. These markets are more fragmented than aerospace but represent substantial potential, and will grow further as innovation reduces scandium intensity in aluminium alloys.”
Further, he wrote, “The corrosion properties of scandium mean the metal can permit aluminium to replace titanium in lower temperature service (say below 300C), where corrosion is the key requirement. Examples might include truck turbochargers.”
He concluded: “Overall, scandium can have a dramatic impact on cost in transportation, whether because of the ability to reduce weight, or the ability to speed production lines. Moreover, it is likely that scandium alloys can be optimised in time to achieve today’s performance at lower levels of scandium. Paradoxically, this may in the end lead to higher scandium usage and even, perhaps, higher per-Kg prices for scandium oxide.”
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
“Mark Smith”
Mark Smith
Executive Chairman, CEO, and Director
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Source: NioCorp Developments Ltd. (TSX: NB, OTCQX: NIOBF, FSE: BR3).
@NioCorp $NB $NIOBF $BR3 #Niobium #Scandium #ElkCreek
For More Information: Contact Jim Sims, VP of External Affairs, NioCorp Developments Ltd., 720-639-4650, [email protected]
About NioCorp
NioCorp is developing a superalloy materials project in Southeast Nebraska that will produce Niobium, Scandium, and Titanium. Niobium is used to produce superalloys as well as High Strength, Low Alloy (“HSLA”) steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in automotive, structural, and pipeline applications. Scandium is a superalloy material that can be combined with Aluminum to make alloys with increased strength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium also is a critical component of advanced solid oxide fuel cells. Titanium is used in various superalloys and is a key component of pigments used in paper, paint and plastics and is also used for aerospace applications, armor and medical implants.
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Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this document. Certain statements contained in this document may constitute forward-looking statements, including but not limited to potential future production at the Elk Creek Project, anticipated products to be produced at the Elk Creek Project, the future critical and strategic nature of niobium and scandium, anticipated costs of production at the Elk Creek Project being competitive, and anticipated competitive advantages. Such forward-looking statements are based upon NioCorp’s reasonable expectations and business plan at the date hereof, which are subject to change depending on economic, political and competitive circumstances and contingencies. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause a change in such assumptions and the actual outcomes and estimates to be materially different from those estimated or anticipated future results, achievements or position expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause NioCorp’s plans or prospects to change include risks related to the Company’s ability to operate as a going concern; risks related to the Company’s requirement of significant additional capital; changes in demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; changes in economic valuations of the Project, such as Net Present Value calculations, changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of NioCorp’s projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining or development activities; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; and the risks involved in the exploration, development and mining business and the risks set forth in the Company’s filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov.. NioCorp disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.